Misunderstandings
on financial matters were probably as common then, as they are now, hence elders
very wisely stated:

Ba bhaur tyon
lekho

Which literally
means that where there are two brothers, a written document (of finance and
properties) must exist.

Well, brothers
seemed to enjoy a certain power. But what about a brother’s wife? Elders
observed:

Gareeb jee joy,
jag jee bhaajaayee

Which means that
the wife of a poor man is like a brother’s wife to the world. I believe
that the above means that just like a brother’s wife was supposed to serve one
with respect, so was a poor man’s wife.

When sensitive mothers-in law would want their new daughters-in
law to follow a certain code of conduct, they would instruct their daughters,
and naturally the daughter- in- law of the house would emulate the same act.
Hence the saying:

Chao dhiya
khey, Ta sikhey noonha

Which means: If you
instruct your daughter, your daughter-in-law learns.

Obviously during
the days of yore, there must have been daughters in law or/and wives who spent
enough time following their own pursuits or the following proverb would not have
been formulated. It claims:

Ghar ghoran
khey, Baara choran khey

Which literally
means that the house has been left to the horses, and the children have been
left under the care of thieves.

Sindhis probably
did not broad-cast the above news, because they believed that one must not wash
dirty linen in public. Hence they stated:

Ghar jo kin,
Ghar mein dhopjey

Which literally
means that one must wash ones dirty laundry at home.

Talking of homes
Sindhis stated:

Ghar mein ghar,
Budee vanee mar

Which means that if
you extended joint families live under the same roof, you are as good as dead.

Obviously Sindhis
were talking about the intrigues, tensions and arguments that would result
because of so many people of different hue and character living together. Hence
they stated:

Ghar jee
gahpee, Matan jo panee sukaayey chhadey

Which literally
means that arguments in a house can get so hot, that they are capable of drying
up the water in the earthen pots.

The following
saying was probably formulated by a dejected mother-in-law who claims:

Sheedi siki
vyaa soonha khaan, Maan siki vyas siyaani noonha khaan

Which means that
the dark-skinned people yearn for a fair complexion, whereas I long for a
sensible daughter-in-law.

The above
mother-in-law probably agrees with the following proverb:

Soorat khaan
seerat bhali

Which means that it
is better to have uprightness, rather than possess good looks. Yet another
saying exists to confirm the above belief.

Ahraa suhinaa
toohaa ta jangal mein bhee ahan

Which literally
means that beautiful “toohaa” flowers abound in the jungle.

This proverb
implies that just like “toohaa” flowers, which have no value, grow in plenty
in the jungle, similarly good
looking people have no value, unless they possess good qualities.

Sindhis believed
that:

Naadaan dost
khaan, Daanav dushman chango

Which means that it
is better to have a wise enemy than a foolish friend.

Sindhis also
believed that it is better to be criticized by a wise man rather than be praised
by a fool. Hence they stated:

Moorakh jey
khushaamad khaan, Syaaney jee tok bhalee

Sindhis probably
believed that a stupid friend is like a:

Sakhini kunee
ghano ubhaamey

Which means that an
empty vessel bubbles more, or makes the most sound. Probably that is why
Sindhis concluded that it is better to cut a bad finger. ( Rather than the
poison spreads). Hence they stated:

Kini aangur
vadhee bhalee

Yet Sindhis did not
want to make generalizations. They realized that:

Sab aangriyoon
baraabar konan

Which means that
all fingers are not of the same size or shape. Not only about people and
friends, but Sindhis observed that, children born from the same parents never
enjoy the same destiny. Hence they claimed:

Mau janeendi
putraa, Bhaag na deendi vandey

Which means that though a mother gives birth
and life to children, yet she cannot divide the same destiny equally amongst
them. Even though each of us enjoy separate and different destinies from
our siblings, relatives and friends, Sindhis believed that rather than burn in
envy because others enjoy better fortune, one must remember that by wishing them
well, one tends to benefit from their good fortune, if one continues to be their
friend. Hence they say:

Saa-ey maan sau sukha

Which means that one can derive a lot of
benefit from the fortunate ones.

Sindhis urged the less fortunate ones not to
lose heart but to have patience.
They said:

Sabur jo phal mitho aahey

Which means that patience brings a sweet
reward.

The Sindhi wise ones believed that:

Par pyo, ghar vyo

Which implies that when an intruder enters
ones house, he may be the cause of the destruction of ones home.

Though Sindhis were famous for their
“Mehmaan navaazi” which means that Sindhis were excellent hosts, they were
also wary of intruders and therefore urged others to eye them with suspicion.
About such people they said:

Aa-ee taando khanan, Borchyaani
thee vethee

Which means, that she came only to borrow a
charcoal, but remained to take full charge of the kitchen.

Sindhis did not only criticize what harm
others can inflict upon you, but realized that you alone can be responsible for
what fate holds for you if you choose to do the wrong thing

Hence they said:

Koylan jey dalaalee mein, hatha
bhee kaaraa, Ta per bhee kaaraa

Which means that if you work in a coal mine,
your hands and feet are bound to get soiled.

Sindhis believed that one must never lose
heart, during the ups and downs of life, but be patient. They claimed:

Sabur jo phal mitho aahey

Which means that perseverance brings to ones
destiny a fruit that is sweet.

I would like to close this offering in the
form of this booklet of ours by one of the wiser sayings of our fore-fathers
which claims:

Jahaan jeeyu tahaan sikhu

Which means that there is no end to learning,
and that while one continues to live one continues to learn.

I do hope that we have learned
from the wise sayings of our ancestors. We must not forget our roots and
we must move towards the future with intelligence, perseverance, pride and
dignity. I pray that the younger
generation is inspired enough by this humble offering of ours, to join us to pay
homage to those Sindhis of yore ,
on whose values our lives have been built.

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